Eye exams

eye exams

eye exams are vital to eye health

The optometrists at Brooklin Optometric Centre believe that comprehensive eye exams are vital to preserving vision and maintaining eye health. Since an eye exam involves more than just finding your eyeglass prescription, you can expect them to use numerous techniques to assess your eye health. These techniques will be modified to accommodate the needs and abilities of our special patient populations (infants, children, seniors and special needs patients).

Case historyYou will be asked about your general health, medications you may be taking, your working environment, hobbies, etc. and also to describe any vision problems you may have been experiencing.

Visual acuity testsUsing wall and hand-held charts, your ability to see small details clearly at both near and far distances will be assessed. The standard eye chart utilizes letters, but numbers, pictures or symbols can be used for children or other special needs patients.

RetinoscopyAn optometrist can determine the strength of your eyes using various lenses and a retinoscope. This is done without feedback from the patient and is therefore an invaluable instrument for assessing the vision problems of children and others who may not be able to read an eye chart.

RefractionThis test is performed to determine your exact prescription. An instrument called a phoropter is used. A phoropter contains a combination of lenses, and lens choices are systematically changed until clear focus is obtained.

TonometryA tonometer is used to measure the fluid pressure in the eye and is an important test in detecting glaucoma.

External eye examinationThe external area around the eye will be examined to ensure that there are no abnormalities. A special microscope called a slit lamp is used to provide high magnification. This instrument is also used to examine the cornea, iris, lens and anterior chamber of your eye. When examining your eyes, specific eye drops might be used to detect tiny cuts, scrapes, tears, foreign objects or infections on your cornea.

Internal eye examinationUsing an ophthalmoscope, slit lamp and special lenses, the back of your eye, including your retina, optic disc and other internal structures will be examined.

At the Brooklin Optometric Centre, a high resolution digital retinal imaging system is used to capture a baseline image of your retina. The images will be used to monitor any changes that may occur with age or disease progression. This is especially important in diabetic and hypertensive patients, as well as patients with macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Eye MovementUsing a number of different tests, your eye alignment and co-ordination will be assessed. Eye muscle imbalances can lead to eye strain, fatigue or double vision.

Peripheral VisionYour visual field is the area in front of you that you can see without moving your eyes. The visual field test determines whether you have defects in your peripheral vision. Your peripheral vision may be affected by glaucoma, a stroke, brain tumours or other conditions.

Colour VisionApproximately 8% of males and 0.4% of females have colour vision deficiencies. The Ishihara colour vision test or a D-15 arrangement test can be used to assess the presence and extent of colour vision deficiencies.

StereopsisYour depth perception will be evaluated with polarized lenses and various 3-D images.